The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1887-11-23

good9"
4" Undoubtedly, and it would be the
cheapest medicine you could give her
and the surest. Think it over q day or
so, Nathan"
That evening Martha was not sur
prised to see startled, anxious look
on her brothers. face, AS he closely re-
garded his wife whenever he thought
himself unobserved.
That night, when they were alone,
he suddenly exclaimed:
"Clara, how would you like to visit
your mother this fall?"
She looked at him a moment in ST.
lence, while wave of crimson swept
over her pale face. Then, turning away,
she said, brokenly:
Don't talk about it, Nat; | know
we can't afford it, and I'd rather not
speak of it,"
=" But we can afford it, and Martha is
willing to keep house for me. Now do
you want to go, dear?"
There was an unconscious tone of re-
proach in his voice, and look of pain
in his face which she could not under
stand.
ooh, Nathanl" she sobbed, with her
face hidden on his shoulder, "don't
imagine that l love you any the less or
am tired of our little home; but | do
want to go. Just now there is nothing
in the world want so much as to see
father and mother"
"Well, then you shall go, little wife.
Don't cry so; | didn't know you cared
so much; but that settles it, you
shall 60"
After Mrs. Tracy and the baby were
gone Martha looked around the unor-
namented rooms and resolved that there
should be something new, something
bright and pretty, to welcome back the
home-keeper The front room ;" had
never been furnished, but after con-
sidering her resources Martha thought
she could manage it if she could per-
suade Nathan into buying a carpet
=" A carpet? Why, Martial" he ex-
claimed at her proposal, too astonished
to say more.
"What was Clara's old home like?"
You don't want her to notice too sharp
contrast on her return" said the sis
ter, quietly.
1" may get carpet" thoughtfully;
but so many other things would have to
follow"
"Nat, when father and mother died
we were going to divide things, but
you had no home then, and while John
and l stayed everything remained the
same. When | came here l sold or
packed everything, and there is big
box for you, which is on the way out
here. Besides bedding and clothing
there are pictures, vases, curtains, a
table-spread and some of mothers nice
rugs. They will help furnish the room.
guess you can afford to buy a cane
seat rocker and two chairs, and we'll
make the rest"
"Td like to know how?n
"There are two bottomless chairs in
the granary. | will ebonize the frames,
cushion and seat and back, and with
strips of embroidery and heavy fringe
they will look handsome. That old
rocker which is forever coming to
pieces can be mended and treated like
wise, minus the rockers, and you'll
have an easy chair. A pine table
which you can make, stained and var
nished and covered with the spread,
will do nicely.'
Well, it sounds practicable; I'll
help all can"
There will be ottomans to make, a
mantle to put up and cornice for the
curtains. 1t will take our spare time
for all winter, but how pleased Clara
will be-"
81 intend to have everything nice
for her some day."
Yes, Nat, but woman must have
something to live on in the meantime.
| There's a love of the beautiful in every
woman's heart, and it must be satisfied
If surrounded by grand scenery the
mind can feed on that but here, in
this level, monotonous country, l be.
lieve the homes should be very bright
and attractive"
" There may be some truth in that,
but never thought of it BEFORE" re-
piled Nathan.
=" 1t is not common for a man tC
think about the home as woman does
for he mingles with the world, while
most of her hours are spent inside the
four walls. Clara had no time to fix ur
anything; that baby was a sight oil
trouble: but if you and the children
help we can do wonders"
And they did. When Clara came
home, four months later, she scarcely
knew the place.
" Come and look at your wife,
whispered Martha, when Nathan had
finished the chores and was ready for a
happy evening.
There she was in the pretty room
chatting with the children. Joy ant
gladness shone through her face, which
had lost its sharpness and pallor, ant
there was an elasticity in her move
ments which recalled her girlhood.
She looks ten years younger,
Martha; and if / can help it she shall
never work so again. You've laugh
me lesson I'll not forget. Wen take
all the comfort we can now, if we neveI
get big house."
" Martha has made this so pretty
that we shan't want another" eX
claimed Clara, hearing his last remarl
as they entered the room. " Pm 81
thankful to you all for this pleasan
homecoming.
" Martha deserves the thanks, fol
she planned it all, +" said Nathan, catch
ing up the baby.
" You are jewel, Martha; and tt
think that | was afraid of you ant
dreaded to have you GOMEZ"
" Was that because you knew / wa
an old maid?' - asked Martha lauph